Flush apparatus for water closets



Feb. 20, 1968 m J. sARGEN-r ETAL 3,359,260

FLUSH APPARATUS FOR WATER CLOSETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1965Feb. 20,- 1968 R. J. SARGENT ETAL 3,369,260

FLUSH APPARATUS FOR WATER CLOSETS 5 sheds-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1965ign-1 RONALD J. SARGENT CHARLES L .SARGENT United States Patent O3,369,260 FLUSH APPARATUS FOR WATER CLOSETS Ronald J. Sargent andCharles L. Sargent, Ann Arbor, Mich., assignors to Thetford EngineeringCorporation, Ann Arbor, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 22,1965, Ser. No. 501,702 11 Claims. (Cl. 4--79) ABSTRACT OF THE`DISCLOSURE Flush apparatus for toilets adapted for use in mobile homeswhich includes a bowl having an annular chamber around the peripheryinto which flushing water can be introduced for discharge into saidbowl, the latter having a discharge outlet normally closed by a gatevalve. A rotary valve is positioned in the conduit for supplying waterto said annular chamber, and a foot pedal and linkage is provided foropening and closing said gate valve and said rotary valve substantiallysimultaneously. A spray nozzle is connected by a ilexible conduit tosaid water supply conduit downstream from said rotary valve, and adiverter is located in the water supply circuit in association with saidspray nozzle so that if the spray nozzle is manually opened before saidfoot pedal is actuated to open the rotary valve, upon such rotary valvebeing opened the water then flowing in the conduit will be divertedthrough the spray nozzle rather than to flow into the annular chamber.

This invention relates generally to water closets of the type used invehicles such as mobile homes, and more particularly to an improvedflush apparatus for water closets of this type.

In the use of a vehicle equipped with a water closet it is sometimesnecessary to conserve the water supply. Since each normal flushingoperation of the water closet consumes a considerable amount of water,an adequate alternative to the normal ilushing operation of the watercloset is desirable. Furthermore, in water closets of this type it isdesirable to provide a flush mechanism in which ushing water flowingthrough the closet will not leak around the flush mechanism. It is anobject of this invention, therefore, to provide improved flushingapparatus for water closets in which a hand operated spray nozzle isassociated with the flushing mechanism so that, when desired, the`closet can be adequately flushed following use by means of thehandnozzle thereby enabling the user to accomplish an adequate flushingutilizing less than the normal amount of water.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved ushingapparatus for water closets which incorporates improved discharge valvemechanism for the closet which eliminates leakage of water around theoperating parts of the flushing mechanism.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide improved flushingapparatus for water closets in which the closet is flushed with thenormal and usual amounts of water each time, unless the user electsprior to opening of the discharge valve to the closet to use the handspray attachment.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide improved flushingapparatus for water closets which is economical to manufacture, easy toinstall, has a long service life, and is ellicient in operation toprevent leakage at the closet discharge valve and provide for flushingwith a minimum amount of water when desired.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description, the appendedclaims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

3,369,260 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view ofa water closet equipped with the liush apparatus of this invention, withsome parts broken away and other parts shown in section for the purposeof clarity, and illustrating parts of the apparatus in flushing positionin broken lines;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the flush apparatus of this invention shownin FIG. 1, with the water closet removed for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view of the ush apparatus lookingsubstantially along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional View of the water flow control valveassembly in the Hush apparatus of this invention, looking substantiallyalong the line 4-4 in FIG. l, and illustrating the valve assembly in aposition in which waterilow is directed to the water closet for normallushing tlow therethrough; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view'of the waterow control valve -assembly inthe ilush apparatus of this invention, illustrated similarly to FIG. 4,and showing the valve assembly in a position in which flow of flushingwater is directed to a ileXible line on which a hand spray nozzle ismounted.

With reference to the drawing, the flush apparatus of this invention,indicated generally at 10, is illustrated in FIG. 1 in assembly relationwith a water closet 12 consisting of an upright bowl 18 on which theusual seat 14 and cover 16 are mounted. The closet 12 is of the typecommonly used in mobile homes and is therefore provided at the lower endof the bowl 18 with a valve housing 20 in which a gate valve member 22is mounted. The gate valve member 22 normally closes an opening 24(FIGS. 1 and 3) located in the valve housing 20 at the lower end of thebowl 18. When the water closet 12 is `being ushed, the gate valve member22 is moved to a position to one side of the opening 24. The upper endof the closet bowl 18 is formed with an encircling water chamber 26provided with an upper end discharge opening 28 and conected to a watersupply passage 30. A single ll opening 32 communicates the lower end ofthe chamber 26 with the interior of the bowl 18.

When the closet 12 is not in use, it is lled with flushing water toapproximately the level indicated at 34 in FIG. 1. The closet 12 isnormally ilushed by actuating the apparatus 10 so as to move the gatevalve member 22 to one side of the opening Z4 so that the contents ofthe bowl 1S drop through the opening 24 into a suitable discharge lineor receptacle (not shown). In response to actuation of the apparatus 10,to open the valve member 22, water from the inlet passage 30 is admittedto the chamber 26 for flow out the top opening 28 and downwardly alongthe inner side of the :bowl 18 so as to flush and clean the bowl. Whenthe apparatus 10 is released, so that the valve member 22 is moved toits closed position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, incoming flow of waterthrough the inlet passage 30 is discontinued, and the water in thechamber 26 leaks through the opening 32 into the bowl 18 so as to fillthe bowl 1S to approximately the level indicated at 34 in FIG. l for asubsequent flushing operation.

In the flush apparatus 10 of this invention, the gate valve member is inthe form of a llat blade of a size to slide horizontally in a cavity 35formed in the valve housing 20. One end of the blade 22 is integrallyformed with an upright cylindrical boss 36 of a size to extend upwardlythrough a circular opening 38 in the housing 20. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention the housing 20 is formed in two parts,namely, a lower part 40 and an upper part 42 secured to the lower partsuch as by screws 44. The housing parts 40 and 42 are shaped so thatthey cooperate to provide the outlet opening 24 for the bowl 18, thecircular opening 38 for the boss 36 and the cavity 35 in which the gateValve blade 22 moves which communicates with both the openings 24 and38. An annular seal 46 carried by the housing 20 engages the blade 22 ata position around the opening 24. A second annular seal 48 carried bythe housing 20 engages the periphery of the cylindrical boss 36, and athird annular seal 50 extends between the housing parts 40, 42.

The boss 36 is hollow and is formed with an inner tubular projection 52which is rotatably supported on a pin shape projection 54 carried by thelower housing part 40. As a result, on rotation of the boss 36 on theprojection 54, the gate valve blade 22 is movable from a positionclosing the opening 24 to a position to one side of the opening 24 andvice versa. During such movement, and at all other times as well, theseals 46, 48 and 50 prevent water from the bowl 18 from leaking aroundthe housing 20.

A bracket 56 (FIGS. l, 2 and 3), secured to the housing top part 42 byscrews 58, is provided with an opening 60 through which an upwardlyextending pin shape projection 62 on the boss 36 extends. The bracket56, which is xed on the housing 20, thus cooperates with projection 54to provide for a two point pivot support of the boss 36 permittingrotatable movement of the boss 36 about its axis 64.

A lever 66, pivotally supported for up and down movement on a pin 68carried by the `bracket 56, is preferably provided with a foot pedal 70.The lever 66 is movable between an upper position shown in solid linesand a lower position sho-wn in broken lines and has a leg 72 to whichone end of a link 74 in a two-part link assembly 76 is attached. Thelink assembly 76 includes a second link 78 attached at one end to thelink 74 by means of an upright pin 80. The opposite end of the link 74is connected to one end of a tension spring 82 which is attached at itsopposite end to a iinger 84 on the bracket 56. The spring 82 thus actsto urge the lever 66 to its upper position, the lever 66 being movabledownwardly to its lower position against the pressure of the spring 82.

The opposite end of the link 78 is connected to another link member 86`which is xed to the actuating pin 88 in a rotary valve assembly 90which is mounted in a xed position on the bracket 56. The rotary valveassembly 90 is connected to a water supply line 92 which communicateswith any suitable source of water (not shown) and a water inlet hose 94which conveys the water from the valve assembly 90 to a flow controlvalve assembly 96 to be hereinafter described. When the link 86 is inthe position indicated at A in FIG. 2, the rotary valve 90 is closed sothat it prevents ow of water from the inlet line 92 to the hose 94. When.the link 86 is moved to the position indicated at B in FIG. 2, therotary valve assembly 90 is opened to allow water to ow from the supplyline 92 into the inlet hose 94 and thence to the valve assembly 96.

As Shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pin 80, which connects the links 74 and78, is connected to the boss 36 at a position to one side of the bossaxis 64. The pin 80 extends downwardly from the links 74 and 78 throughan arcuate slot 98 in the bracket 56, and the spring 82 urges the linkassembly 76 to a position in which the pin 80 is urged against one end100 of the arcuate slot 98. When the lever 66 is moved downwardly to itsbroken line position shown in FIG. 1, against the pressure of the spring82, the link mechanism 76 is -rnoved to a limit position in which thepin 80 engages the other end 102 of the slot 98 as shown in broken linesin FIG. 2. When the pin 80 is in this latter position, the boss 36 hasbeen rotated to a position in which the valve blade 22 has been moved toone side of the valve opening 24. Also in this position of the lever 66the link 78 has been moved to a position in which the link member 86 hasbeen moved to position B to open the rotary valve assembly 90. Thus, inthe broken line lower position of the lever 66 illustrated in FIG. l,the discharge outlet 24 for water closet 12 is open and water ows 4through the inlet hose 94 to the valve assembly 96 shown in FIGS. 4 and5.

The valve assembly 96 includes a valve housing or ca-sing 104 providedwith an inlet connection 106 attached to the inlet hose 94. An internalnipple 108 aligned with the tting 106 is aligned with a backow preventerbody 110 slidably supported in a valve passage 112. In response to flowof water into the housing 104 through the inlet connection 106, the body110 is moved upwardly to its solid line position shown in FIG. 4 so asto permit flow of water into an internal valve chamber 114. As soon asthe flow of water into the casing 104 is shut off, gravity provides fora downward movement of the backflow preventer body 110 onto the upperend of the nipple 108, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, so as toprevent any backilow of water into line 94.

The valve casing 104 is provided with a rst outlet fitting 116, attachedto the inlet passage 30 for the bowl 18, and a second outlet fitting 118connected to one end of a flexible hose 120 which carries at itsopposite end a conventional hand spray nozzle 122. The fitting 116cornmunicates with the internal valve chamber 114 through an internalpassage 124 which communicates with a second internal chamber 126 whichin t-urn communicates with the chamber 114 through passages 128. Aninternal strut 130 in the valve casing 104 is formed with intemallythreaded passages 138 which communicate with the outlet fitting 118. Apair of diverter members 140 positioned in the chamber 126 and threadedinto the passages 13S communicate internally with the passages 138.

The function 0f the diverter members 140 is to divert the water flowingfrom chamber 114 to outlet fitting 116 into outlet fitting 118 whendesired. When the handoperated spray nozzle 122, whichv is ofconventional type having an internal valve which is opened when a leveris depressed, is opened prior to opening of the rotary valve 90, thediverters 140 act, because of pressure conditions in hose 120 andchamber 126, to divert water from chamber 114 `into passages 138 andhose 120. The ow of water under such circumstances is illustrated by theflow arrows in FIG. 5. When the hand spray nozzle 122 is not actuated,prior to depression .of the lever 66, the pressure conditions in casing104 are different and the ow of water is as illustrated by the flowarrows in FIG. 4. Commercially obtainable diverters 140 are suitable forthis purpose. Examples of such diverters are illustrated in one or moreof the following U.S. patents: 2,172,345, 2,314,071 and 2,587,961.

In the operation of the apparatus 10 of this invention, assume that itis desired to conserve the water supply in the vehicle in which thewater closet 12 is installed. Prior to depression of the lever 66 so asto move the lever from its upper position to its lower position (FIG.1), the lever 150 on the hand spray nozzle 122 is depressed so as toopen lthe nozzle, and the nozzle is aimed at the interior of the watercloset bowl 18. The operator then steps on the foot pedal 70 so as tomove the lever 66 to its broken line position shown in FIG. 1 in whichthe boss rotating pin 80 is in the broken line position illustrated inFIG. 2 at the end 102 of the arcuate slot 98. This movement of the lever66 is effective to move the gate valve blade 22 to its open position,allowing the contents of the water closet 12 to be discharged throughthe outlet opening 24. Movement of the lever 66 to this Position is alsoeffective to open the rotary valve 90 so that water ows into the valveassembly 96 through the inlet connection 106. The flow of water in thevalve casing 104 is then as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 5, thediverter members 140 acting to divert the flow of water entering thecasing 104 into the outlet connection 118. This water ows through thehose 120 and the nozzle 122.

The operator then manipulates the nozzle 122 so as to adequately flushand clean the interior of the bowl 18. As -soon as this flushingoperation is completed to the satisfaction of the operator, the lever 66is released, the

spring 82 returning the lever to its solid line position shown in FIG.1, and the nozzle 122 is maintained in a position over the bowl 18 untilall of the water has run out of the flexible line 120. In the event itis desired to relill the bowl 18 to the water level 34, the operatorthen briefly moves the lever 66 to its broken line position so as toopen the rotary valve 90, leaving the hand spray nozzle closed. By thenreleasing the lever 66, after the chamber 26 has filled, sullicientwater will leak through the opening 32 into the bowl 18 to fill the bowlto about the level indicated at 34. During normal flushing of the watercloset 12, the pedal 66 is depressed, with no actuation of the handspray nozzle 122. The result is waterflow, as indicated in FIG. 4,through the valve assembly 96 into the bowl 18 through the passage 30and the chamber 26. The pedal 66 is ldepressed for as long as theflushing operation is desired to continue, with Water flowing throughrotary valve 90 for as long as lever 66 is held down.

From the above description it is seen that this invention providesimproved flush apparatus whereby a vehicle water closet 12 can beflushed with only a necessary amount of water or in the conventionalmanner, whichever the user elects at the time of llushing. The handspray nozzle 122 is operable, when it is desirable to conserve thewater, to adequately cleanse the bowl 18. By virtue of the apparatus 10,the nozzle 122 is usable or not following each use of the water closet12, without alecting a subsequent normal operation of apparatus to flushthe closet 12. By virtue of the one-piece gate valve 22 and boss 36, theseals 46, 48 and 50 and the particular mechanism utilized for rotatingthe boss 36, there is no danger of leakage of water from the closet 12around the lever 66 and the linkage associated therewith.

It will be understood that the llush apparatus for water closets whichis herein disclosed and described is presented for purposes ofexplanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits ofthe invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a water closet provided with a bowl having an outlet,means for opening and closing said outlet, passage means for supplyingflushing water to said closet, valve means in said passage means, meansfor opening said valve means in response to opening of said closetoutlet, a spray nozzle, means including a flexible line connecting saidspray nozzle and said flushing water supply means downstream from saidvalve means so that water can flow through said flexible line and spraynozzle only when the outlet means of said bowl is open, and handoperable means for opening and closing said nozzle.

2. In combination, a water closet provided with a bowl having a manuallyoperable discharge valve, supply means for supplying flushing water tosaid rbowl in response to opening of said valve, a spray nozzle, conduitmeans connecting said nozzle and said flushing Vwater supply means, handoperable means for opening and closing said nozzle, and diverter meanspositioned in said supply means and operable for diverting said llushingwater from said bowl to said spray nozzle on opening of said nozzleprior to opening of said discharge valve.

3. In a water closet provided with an outlet, a gate valve mounted forpivotal movement about an axis located to one side of said outlet, saidvalve being movable between an open position to one side of said outletand a closed position closing said outlet, passage means for supplyingllushing water to said closet, a rotary valve in said passage, a spraynozzle, means including a llexible line connecting said spray nozzle andsaid passage means downstream from said rotary valve, hand operablemeans for opening and closing said nozzle, lever and linkage meansconnected to said valves for concurrently pivoting said valves to theopen positions therefor, and means disposed in said water supply passagebetween said rotary valve and said flexible line diverting said flushingwater in said passage from said closet to said spray nozzle on openingof said nozzle prior to operation of said lever and linkage means toopen said Valves.

4. In a llush assembly for a water closet having a valve housing at thelower end thereof, a gate valve mounted in said housing and movable 4toan open position to discharge said closet, means including a water inletline connected to said closet for supplying ilushing water thereto fordownward llow through said housing on opening of said gate valve, ashutol valve in said inlet line movable between open and closedpositions, a foot pedal pivotally mounted on said housing for up anddown movement, a spray nozzle, a llexible line connecting said nozzle tosaid inlet line at a position downstream from said shutoff valve, andlinkage means connecting said foot pedal and said valves so that ondownward movement of said pedal said gate valve is opened to dischargesaid closet and said shutol valve is opened to allow water to flow tosaid closet and said flexible line.

S. A ilush valve mechanism for a water closet which includes a valvehousing having an opening through which the contents of said closet aredischarged, a substantially flat gate valve blade mounted in saidhousing at a position closing said opening, seal means in said housingextending about said opening and engaged with said valve blade, anupright cylindrical boss formed integral with said valve blade at oneside of said opening and pivotally supported on said housing forrotatable movement about the axis of said boss so that when said boss isrotated said valve blade is rotated to position to one side of saidopening, bracket means mounted in a fixed position on said housing andextending across the top side of said boss, a lever pivotally mounted onsaid bracket for up and down movement, link means cony nected to saidlever and extending across the top side 0f said boss with said bracketbetween said boss and link means, spring means extending between saidbracket and said linkmeans so as to urge said lever to an upperposition, pin means extending downwardly between said link means andsaid boss providing for rotation of said boss in response to movement ofsaid link means, said bracket having an arcuate slot therein concentricwith said boss axis and having said pin means extended therethrough,said boss being in a position corresponding to a closed position of saidvalve blade in said upper position of said lever with said spring urgingsaid pin against one end of said slot, said lever being operable onmovement in a downward direction against the pressure of said spring toa lower position in which said pin is in the other end of said slot tomove said valve blade to one side of said opening, and means connectedto said link means for supplying flushing water to said closet inresponse to movement of said lever to said lower position.

6. A flush valve mechanism for a water closet which includes a valvehousing having an opening through which the contents of said closet aredischarged, a gate valve mounted in said housing at a position closingsaid opening, seal means in said housing extending about said openingand engaged with said valve, an upright boss formed .integral with saidvalve at one side of said opening and pivotally supported on saidhousing for rotatable movement about an upright axis so that when saidboss is rotated said valve is rotated to a position to one side of saidopening, a lever pivotally mounted on said housing for up and downmovement between upper and lower limit positions, link means connectedto said lever, pin means extending downwardly between said link meansand said boss at one side of the axis of said boss so that in responseto movement of said link means said pin means is moved in an arcuatepath about the axis of said boss so as to rotate said boss about saidaxis, said boss being in a position corresponding to a closed positionof said valve in said upper position of said lever, said lever beingoperable on movement in a downward direction to said lower posi-tion tomove said valve to one side of said opening, and means connected to saidlink means for supplying llushing water to said closet in response tomovement of said lever to said vlower position.

7. A flush valve mechanism for a water closet which includes a valvehousing having an opening through which the contents of said closet aredischarged, a substantially flat gate valve blade mounted in saidhousing at a position closing said opening, seal means in said housingextending about said opening and engaged with said valve blade, anupright cylindrical boss formed integral with said valve blade at oneside of said opening and pivotally supported on said housing forrotatable movement about the axis of said boss so that when said boss isrotated said valve blade is rotated to a position to one side of saidopening, seal means in said housing extending about and engaged withsaid boss, lever means pivotally mounted on said housing for up and downmovement, means connected to and extending between said boss and saidlever means -providing for rotation of said boss about the axis thereofon pivotal movement of said lever means, and means connected to saidlever means for supplying ilushing Water to said closet in response topivotal movement of said lever in one direction to move said valve bladeto said position to one side of said opening.

8. A flush valve mechanism for a water closet which includes a housingprovided with a discharge opening through which the contents of saidcloset are discharged, a valve member mounted in said housing at aposition closing said opening, seal means carried by said housing andextending about said opening and engaged with said valve member, acylindrical boss formed integral with said valve member and pivotallysupported on said housing to one side of said opening for rotatablemovement so that when said bos-s is rotated said valve member isrota-ted to a position to one side of said opening, -a lever pivotallymounted on said housing, link means connected to said lever, meansextending between said link means and said boss providing for rotationof said boss in response to movement of said link means, said boss beingin a position corresponding to a closed position of said valve member insaid one position of said lever, said lever being operable on movementto a second position to rotate said boss so as to move said valve memberto one side of said opening, means including a water inlet lineconnected to said closet for supplying flushing water thereto fordownward flow through said discharge opening, a rotary valve in saidinlet line movable between open and closed positions, means connected tosaid link means for opening said rotary valve on movement of said leverto said second position, a spray nozzle, a flexible line connecting saidnozzle to said inlet line at a position downstream from said secondvalve, and means in said inlet line between said second valve and theconnection of said flexible line to said inlet line for diverting flowof lwater which would otherwise flow to said closet into said flexibleline.

9. In a water closet provided with a valve housing having a dischargeoutlet through which the contents of said closet are discharged, valvemeans mounted in said housing for opening and closing said outlet,passage means for supplying flushing water to said closet, a valvemember in said passage means, a flexible hose, a hand actuatable spraynozzle mounted on said hose, a flow control valve assembly having aninlet connected to said passage means downstream from said valve member,said assembly having a first outlet connected to said closet at aposition above said valve housing for supplying flushing water theretoand a second outlet connected to said flexible hose, flow diverter meansin said valve assembly between said inlet and said outlets, saiddiverter means operating to direct waterflow in said valve assembly fromSaid inlet to said second outlet when said spray nozzle is actuatedprior to flow of water from said inlet toward said outlets, saiddiverter means directing said flow to said first outlet in the absenceof said prior actuation of said nozzle, and lever means mounted on saidvalve housing and connected to said valve means and said valve memberfor concurrently opening and closing said valve means and said valvemember.

10. `In a flush mechanism for a water closet having a discharge valve, aflexible hose, a hand actuatable spray nozzle mounted on said hose, aflow control valve assembly having an inlet connected to a water supply,said assembly having a rst outlet connected to said closet for supplyingflushing water thereto and a second outlet connected to said flexiblehose, flow diverter means in said valve assembly between said inlet andsaid outlets, said diverter means operating to direct waterllow in saidvalve assembly from said inlet to said second outlet when said spraynozzle is actuated prior to ow of water from said inlet toward saidoutlets, said diverter means directing said flow to said first outlet inthe absence of said prior actuation of said nozzle.

11. In a flush mechanism for a water closet having a discharge valve, aflexible hose, a hand actuatable spray nozzle mounted on said hose, aflow control valve assembly having an inlet, a water supply passageconnected to said inlet, a shutoff valve in said passage, said assem*bly having a first outlet connected to said closet for supplyingflushing Water thereto and a second outlet connected to said flexiblehose, flow diverter means in said valve assembly between said inlet andsaid outlets, said diverter means operating to direct waterllow in saidvalve assembly from said inlet to said second outlet when said spraynozzle is actuated prior to opening of said shutoff valve to provide forflow of water to said inlet, said diverter means directing said flow tosaid first outlet in the absence of said prior actuation of said nozzle,and backilo'w preventing means in said assembly operatively associatedwith said inlet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 841,392 1/1907 Hamilton 251 3011,377,185 5/1921 Corry 4 8 1,498,015 6/192'4 Corry 4 76 2,075,830 4/1937Salvoni 4 6 2,166,944 7/1939 Duner 4-76 2,173,064 9/1939 Judell 4 1872,258,453 10/l941 Johnson 4-85 2,344,561 3/1944- yPopil 4 7 2,600,6196/1952` Conterno 4 6 2,602,165 7/1952 Duner 4 8 2,754,820 7/ 1956 Glucket al. 12S-227 2,826,761 3/1958 `Lazarus et al. 4 7 3,045,248 7/ 1962Gentry 4 249 3,214,772 11/1965 Roberts et al. 4 79 FOREIGN PATENTS1,162,224 4/1958 France.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

HENRY ARTIS, Assistant Examiner',

